Sanding apparatus for locomotives



(No Model.) 2 Sheets--Sheen l. C. F. GAGE. SANDING APPARATUS FORLOCOMOTIVES.

Patented Sept. 1, 1896.

INVENTOR WITN ESSES (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

C. F. GAGE. SANDING APPARATUS FOR LOCOMOTIVES.

NO. 566,857. Patented Sept. 1, 1896.

' INVENTOR WITNESSES/ r (j M 6/MI/Q H: mums vzrsm LU. vumuuwo. wl-smumoxa UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

' SANDING APPARATUS FOR LOCOMOTIVES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 566,857, datedSeptember 1, 1896.

Application filed October 8,1895. Serial No. 565,048. We model.)

T0 @135 LII/7207771 it TIMI/If concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES FRANCIS GAGE, of Schuylerville, county ofSaratoga, State of New Yorkflrave invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Sanding Apparatus for Locomotives, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings.

One object of my invention is to produce an improved sanding apparatusfor locomotives by which the ordinary sand-boX upon the top of theboiler near its forward end is dispensed with, and in place thereof asandchamber is provided in connection with the steam-dome of the boiler.The use of the ordinary sand-box is not only objectionable because itobstructs the view of the engineer, but also because it increases thecost of manufacture of a locomotive.

Another object of my invention is to provide a non-conductive casearound the steamdome, a provision which serves the double purpose ofdiminishing the condensation of steam within the dome and of heating thesand in the chamber surrounding the dome. The heating of the sand notonly facilitates its free movementwhenever it is required, but the sandapplied hot to the rails absorbs or dissipates dampness or frost quicklyand secures the best results.

A still further object of my invention is to provide means offurnishing, through the movement of a single lever, any of the wheels ofthe locomotive with sand when the Wheels of the locomotive are requiredto move forward or backward, as the case may be.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I is a side elevation of a portionof a locomotive equipped with my sanding apparatus. Fig. 11 is a topplan view thereof. Fig. III is a central vertical section on the line 33 of Fig. I. Fig. IV isa detail sectional view as if taken on the lineat l of Fig. V. Fig. V is a transverse section on the line 5 5 of Fig.IV. Fig. VI is a perspective view of the valve-casing or face-platedetached. Fig. VII is a side elevation of the sand gates or valves andactuatin g-lever detached.

Referring to the figures on the drawings, 1 indicates the boiler of anylocomotive. Its construction, pattern, or design may be varied in anyWay as may be required, my apparatus being equally applicable to allkinds of boilers.

2 indicates a steam-dome secured as by :1

flange 3 to the boiler. The form of dome illustrated is not essential,and I do not limit the application of my invention to any particularstyle of dome, or to any shape, or di mensions thereof. illustrated byway of example.

3 indicates a dome-casing, which may or may not be employed around theexterior of the dome proper, it being entirely practicable to constructmy sand-chamber so that the sand shall come into direct contact with thedome proper.

iindicates an outside shell of suitable shape and dimensions, beingdesigned to give the desired exterior finish to the dome and to providebetween it and the dome or, as illustrated, the dome-casin g, asand-space or sand-chamher 5. The space defined between the dome ordome-casing 8 and the shell 4 constitutes a closed receptacle orsand-box, completely surrounding and protecting the dome, so that Whenit is filled with sand, as in practice it is designed to be, it forms anon-conductive wall around the dome and diminishes the condensation ofsteam within the same. At the same time the sand confined therein iskept dry and hot.

The casing 3 may be provided with a cap 6, which overspreads the shell 4and afiords a suitable finish for the exterior of the combined dome andsand-box.

The shell 4 may be provided with filling-apertures closed by plugs 7,which afford a SllIlple means of access for keeping the box filled withsand. The shell 4. maybe made in any suitable manner and is providedwith means for delivering sand to the forward sand-pipes 8 and rearwardsand-pipes 9, a pair or more of pipes being applied to each side of thelocomotive, so that sand may be supplied on both sides to the drivers toenable them to go ahead or to reverse.

The pipes employed. to convey the sand from the box may be set at anysuitable angle and be made of anysuitable material best adapted for thepurpose. They may be disposed upon the locomotive in any practicable anddesirable Way.

In order that some means may be provided The form shown is merely forregulating the flow of sand from the box through the pipes, or any ofthem, some arrangement of valves or gates must be provided. Thearrangement which I have illustrated is simple and well adapted for thepurpose, but the details are susceptible of wide variations.

In the arrangement shown the sh ell 4 is pro vided upon opposite sideswith abutment- Walls 10, through which ports 11, of a number tocorrespond with the numberof delivery-pipes employed, pass. A face-plateor casing 12 may be secured to the abutmentwall 10 by suitable means,and it may be provided with fittings or projections 13, whose borescommunicate, respectively, with the discharge-ports ll of the sand-box.

Guideways or seats 14, provided in the face plate 12, accommodatevertically sliding valves or gates 15, each valve being preferablybrought to a button edge 16,that works against the lower side of thewall of the port 11, or toward the juncture of the abutmentplate withthe face-plate. When the valves 15 are closed, the sand is confinedwithin the sand-box, from which it may be released by the opening of oneor more of the valves. The delivery-pipes 8 and 9 communicate with therespective projections 13, (see particularly Figs. IV and V,) so thatwhen the sand is released by the opening of one of the valves it findsits exit at the discharge end of the pipe and against the rail 18.

In addition to the mechanism above described I employ suitablevalve-actuating mechanism, the preferred embodiment of which consists inmechanism adapted to actuate any set of the valves independently throughthe operation of a single lever within reach of the engineer or hisassistant.

Various mechanisms answering to this description may be contrived, andthat which I illustrate is preferred mainly because of its simplicity.

The following is a description of the parts which constitute thepreferred embodiment of the valve-actuating mechanism: 19 indicates adouble bell-crank lever pivoted, as indicated at 20, to the shell 4.Near its extremity it is loosely pivoted, as indicated at 21 and 22, tothe respective stems 23 of the valves 15, which it is designed tooperate, one lever 19 being employed for each side of the combined domeand sand-box. By swinging the arm 24 of the lever upon its pivot 20 toone side or the other of the vertical line one of the valves 15 willopen and the other remain closed, the independent movement of the lever19 being permitted by the transverse slots 25, through which therespective stems 23 of the valves 15 are loosely pivoted to the lever.If the arm 24 remains in the vertical position, both of the valves 15attached to that lever 19 of which the arm 24 is a part will remainclosed. The two levers 19 upon opposite sides of the combined dome andsand-box are united, as by the arms 26 of the bifurcated end of thepitman 27-, whose extremity 28 is pivotally secured to anoperating-lever 29,

pivoted, as indicated at 30, to the wall of the cab.

The operation of my device is as follows: The sand-box 5 being filledwith sand the engineer or other operator, as occasion may require,grasping the lever 29 may, by a forward or backward movement thereof,operate the proper valves and produce a discharge of sand through theforward or rearward delivery pipe 8 or 9, as required, to its respectivedriver. When the lever 29 is returned to its normal position, the arm 24will be brought to the vertical position and the discharge of sandshutoff.

What I claim is- 1. The combination with a locom otive-boiler andsteam-dome, of a dome-casing surrounding the dome and an outside shellsurrounding the dom e-casing and constitutingbetween it and thedome-casing a sand-box, and means for delivering the sand upon thetracks, substantially as specified.

2. The combination with alocomotive-boiler and steam-dome, of a sand-boxconsisting of a dome-casing, and an outside shell secured to thelocomotive-boiler concentric with the dome, forward and rearwarddelivery pipes upon each side of the sand-box and designed to deliverthe sand in front .of and behind the drivers on both sides of thelocomotive, and valve mechanism controlling the deliverypipes,substantially as specified.

3. The combination with alocomotive-boiler. sand-box anddischarge-ports, of valves controlling the discharge-ports,respectively, a double bell-crank lever loosely pivoted at itsextremities to the valves, said lever being pivoted to the sand-box, andmechanism for tilting the bell-crank lever upon its pivot, substantiallyas set forth.

4. The combination with a locomotive-boiler and sand-box, of a pair offorward-delivery pipes and a pair of rearward-delivery pipes uponopposite sides of the sand-box, valves in each of the delivery-pipes,double bellcrank levers upon opposite sides of the sandbox adapted,respectively to actuate a plurality of valves, and a lever operativelyconnected through intermediate mechanism with both of the doublebell-crank levers and designed to actuate them simultaneously,substantially as specified.

5. The combination with a sand-box provided upon opposite sides withabutmentwalls, of a face-plate provided with ports correlative withports through the abutmentwalls, valve-guideways within the face-plate,valves in said ways,and valve-actuatin g mechanism, substantiallyasspecified.

In testimony of all which I have hereunto subscribed my name.

CHARLES FRANCIS GAGE.

Witnesses:

JAMES E. MoEoKEN, GEORGE R. SALISBURY.

